Rutger de Vink is a tough as a Marine and as soft as a glass of Merlot. His family made their way to the United States from the Netherlands while a teenager.

After leaving college to join the Marines and then working in telecommunications, Rutger pursued his love of agriculture with a wine apprenticeship and trips to Bordeaux & California. He was determined to find his own site to farm and make wine. Rutger ultimately settled in Virginia in 2004 creating RDV Vineyards on a hilltop in historic Delaplane, about 50 miles west of Washington, DC. 

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member!

The Grape Nation is Powered by Simplecast.

Heini Zachariassen hails from the Faroe Islands and grew up in Denmark, attending college in Copenhagen. He became a software developer and serial entrepreneur. Heini founded Vivino in 2011 with Theis Sondergaard. Today Vivino is the world’s largest online marketplace and most downloaded wine app driven by a community of 50 million users, over a billion five wine label scans, and a new round of funding for continued growth for their wine community.

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member!

The Grape Nation is Powered by Simplecast.

Brits, Dan Keeling and Mark Andrew found a bond in wine that would lead them to create a wine magazine, two restaurants and a book to talk about it all.

Dan had a successful career in the music business while Mark became a Master of Wine and worked at a leading London wine merchant. Dan Keeling and Mark Andrew are Noble Rot Magazine, Noble Rot Wine Bar, Noble Rot Soho, and authors of recently released “The Noble Rot Book: Wine from Another Galaxy”.

The Grape Nation has been nominated for the Taste Awards! Check out all the finalists at http://www.thetasteawards.com/12th-annual-taste-awards-nominees-finalists-and-honorees/

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member!

The Grape Nation is Powered by Simplecast.

Jane Lopes has graced our microphones a few times to discuss sexual harassment in the wine industry, multiple issues at the Court of Master Sommeliers and her life through her book “Vignette”. Jonathan Ross is a Master Sommelier. He worked as Head Sommelier at Eleven Madison Park before following Jane to Australia to work with the Rockpool Group. While in Australia, Jon bought a few grapes to make wine, this was the beginning of Micro Wines. Jane and Jon, who are married, moved back to the states to start Legend Imports, focusing on the wines of Australia.

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member!

The Grape Nation is Powered by Simplecast.

Nate Ready is a former Master Sommelier. He worked the floor at Bobby Stuckey’s Frasca in Boulder and the French Laundry in Yountville before heading north to find a small working farm in Hood River, Oregon. Hiyu Farm is a biodiverse environment where Nate grows over 100 grape varietals, fruits, vegetables and raises animals. He is a true permaculturist.

The Grape Nation is nominated as a Taste Awards "Viewer's Choice" finalist. Help us win by voting today!

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member!

The Grape Nation is Powered by Simplecast.

Napa Valley native, Tegan Passalacqua cut his teeth in the Rhone, New Zealand and South Africa before literally planting his roots in California. Tegan started at Zin Zen Masters Turley Wine Cellars in 2003, and is currently working as Head Winemaker and Vineyard Manager. He launched his own Sandlands Wines with wife Olivia in 2011 working with a multitude of varietals practicing vine head training and dry farming. Tegan Passalacqua is a true American Vigneron living in the heart of Lodi, California, home of his Kirschenmann Vineyard and Passalacqua Farming.

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member!

The Grape Nation is Powered by Simplecast.

Martha Stoumen did not grow up around wine, but connected with the soil during a trip in college to Italy, studying agriculture. She was drawn to the vineyards and thus began a Vigneron’s view of winemaking. Martha received a Masters at UC Davis and went on to apprentice with some of the best winemakers around the world including Giusto Occhipinti, Didier Barral, and Chris Brocway. She started her eponymous label a few years ago and now follows her own vision of making responsibly farmed, terroir-driven wines in the land that she holds so dear in her heart, California.

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member!

The Grape Nation is Powered by Simplecast.

Far from wine country, Maggie Harrison was born in the Midwest and pursued a career in International Relations and Conflict Resolution…well that didn’t last long. Maggie made her way out west to pursue a career in wine. She landed a job with quirky and legendary Sin Que Non winemaker Manfred Krankl, as his assistant for 8 years. Along the way she started her own small label, Liilian specializing in Syrah before a group of friends asked her to look at their property in the Eola Amity Hills of Oregon. Maggie joined them and is now the owner-winemaker at Antica Terra making gorgeous Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member!

The Grape Nation is Powered by Simplecast.

Philippe Andre grew up around fine dining at his parent’s upscale restaurant in Evanston, Illinois. He worked every job in the restaurant, eventually hitting the floor and creating a wine program, becoming their first Somm in 18 years. After almost a decade at the restaurant, Philippe left the family business to pursue a career in wine, first traveling to Oregon, stints at Hart Davis Hart and Moet Hennessy with Southern Glazer. Philippe is now the first Brand Ambassador for Champagne Charles Heidsieck and runs the Grand Cru and consultancy.

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member!

The Grape Nation is Powered by Simplecast.

Jean Gonon is a second-generation wine maker with the soul, knowledge and experience of many more years. Jean, along with his brother Pierre are the proprietors of Domaine Pierre Gonon in St. Joseph in the Northern Rhone of France. The purity and distinctive character of their wines, achieved through great terroirs, a strong commitment to farming and winemaking with an eye towards their ancestor’s methods, has made Domaine Pierre Gonon the Domaine in St Joseph.

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member!

The Grape Nation is Powered by Simplecast.